Sat 7th March 20

A bit better day today, but still chilly. Pete Loud stated off with a walk around the Dell and the Approach Road but nothing of note was found. I headed to the hide to join John, Max & Jeff where the Chiffchaff reported earlier was showing well on and off as were the pair of Pintail.

Photo Max Martin©

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, 2 Greylag, c250 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 30 Shelduck, 52 Shoveler, 2 Pintails, c100 Lapwing, 30+ Snipe, 27 Avocet, 2 Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Med Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Stock Doves, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 1 Pied Wag, 2 Reed Bunting. PL/JH/MM/JB/MR
On the return a single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall beside the sluice  



Max Martin

08:48 Male Pintail on Island and Chiffchaff singing.
08:50 And 23 Avocet on scrape as well.


Paul Brayshaw

10:14 At least seven Med Gulls on the golf course (2x1yr 2x2yr and 3ad) with 700+ black head and 70 common.

Fri 6th March 20

Reports from today.

John Hall

12:36 From the Scrape: Water level very high. Nice conditions rewarded us with 1st Chiffchaff for year showing well on reeds in front of hide, 15 Avocet, 36+ Shovelers, 26 Shelduck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, Wigeon and Teal as norm, 100+ Lapwings. Pete Davis had very brief sighting of Cetti’s Warbler.
12:47 Further: A phenomenon which all three of us agreed we had never seen before and which happened at least 10 times, was the synchronised immersing of the large mixed duck flock. It caused a lot of speculation but no real answers. PRD,DC,JH. (The debate continued).
15:17 Also Oystercatcher and 2 Snipe.

Thu 5th March 20

I missed the three days of light winds and sunshine, back to the normal strong winds and torrential rain today. 
Thankfully the Avocets were still around and getting settled in, all paired up and looking for suitable nest sites, as were a few Lapwing, fingers crossed for this spring.

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, 4 Canada Geese, c250 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 23 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, c100 Lapwing, 14 Avocet, 10 Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Kestrel, 2 Reed Buntings. PRD/MR.

The weather didn't deter Pete Davis from digging out a Redshank (NFY) on the pools below the raised platform shortly after I left site.

Wed 4th March 20

Not on site again today.


John Hall

09:49 At least 14 Avocets today on scrape.
10:59 Wigeon,Teal,and Lapwing numbers down, 20+Shovelers, 8 Shelduck, 14 Avocet, Little Egret, Peregrine, 1 Oystercatcher, Black Swan, Pied Wagtail, Water Rail (seen for a change).

Photo John Hall©

 

Tue 3rd March 20


Not on site today, no reports received so far.

Mon 2nd March 20

Not on site today, but a good start with Dave Welham reporting 3 Avocet on the scrape, the first of the year 6 days earlier than last year.

Sun 1st March 20

Nice in the sun today but still a chilly wind, very quiet around the whole site this morning. Nothing of note around the approach road, the Dell or the carpark bushes, a few L T Tits, Great Tit and Blue Tits on the feeders, nothing offshore apart from one Curlew heading South.
From the hide : 1 Black Swan, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck as of late, c200 Lapwing, 19 Snipe, 1 BlkWit. PL/IM/DC/MR.

On the wildlife front, 2 Adders and the first Peacock butterfly of the year today (see Haven Wildlife).


Matt Lonsdale

17:21 Med gull offshore from sluice.